Miniature rose plant named `Something For Judy`

ABSTRACT

The subject of the present disclosure is a new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant, named `Something For Judy` which is characterized by buds and blooms in shades of pale pink with a blush of deep pink on the outermost petals which age to near red. Blooms of this rose are usually borne one to a stem with hybrid tea form and sprays of 3 to 5 or more. The bush is vigorous, well-branched and produces moderate to heavy blooms.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of a hardy,dwarf, bush plant of the miniature class; the variety being primarilycharacterized as pink blend.

The variety is further characterized by:

Long stemmed blooms of hybrid tea-type form, borne usually one to a stemand in compact sprays of 3 to 5 or more. The blooms are held very erectand well above the foliage.

The plant ranges in height from 18 to 24 inches (45 to 60 cm). The canesare sturdy and erect with moderate branching and medium to heavy foliagecovering. The plant is a heavy bloomer that does well either in thegreenhouse or outdoors.

The plant has good growth habits, is well-shaped and attractive, bearingnumerous leaflets of average size. Asexual reproduction of the newvariety by cuttings derived from the plant stem, as performed at ChulaVista, Calif., shows that the foregoing charcteristics and distinctionscome true to form and are established and transmitted through succeedingpropagations.

The seed parent was Angel Face (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,792), and thepollen parent was Big John (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,754). It differs fromits seed parent in the following ways. It is a miniature rose of thepink blend class, and Angel Face is a floribunda in the mauve class. Itdiffers from its pollen parent in the following ways. It is a pinkblend, and Big John is dark red.

The single color photographic view shows, in plain view, a bouquet of`Something For Judy` in various stages of maturity from bud stage tonearly open bloom stage.

The descriptive matter which follows pertains to roses grown and colorvalues observed in plants and newly opened blooms in the months of Marchthrough November of 1995. The plants were grown outdoors in Chula Vista,Calif., and are belived to be accurate standards for this cultivar insimilar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere.

Referring now specifically to the new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant named `Something For Judy`, the following is a detaileddescription thereof in outline; all major color plate identificationsbeing by reference to the British Colour Council Horticultural Chart,except where common terms of color definition are employed.

Type: Hardy, dwarf, bushy, greenhouse or outdoor, exhibition or gardendecorative potted plant.

Class: Miniature.

Variety name: Something For Judy.

Flowers borne: Usually one to a stem, but occasionally in sprays of 3 to5 or more on erect stems with foliage well below the blooms.

Quantity of bloom: Heavy both outdoors or greenhouse grown.

Bud:

Peduncle.--Average length (30 to 50 mm); average diameter and sturdy;ranging from near Scheeles Green (860/3 to 860/1 page 176) withoccasional tinging of bronze.

Hairs.--Extremely small and sparse with a reddish color; located overthe surface of the peduncle and calyx tube.

Calyx.--Color range same as peduncle.

Opening.--Opens well in all weather.

Bloom:

Size when fully open.13 Slightly larger than average for a miniaturevariety (45 to 55 mm).

Petalage.--Full -- 25 to 35 petals, arranged regularly, plus 5 to 10petaloids.

Form.--Urn-shaped to ovoid as the bloom opens. The petals remainsomewhat cupped with the apex and/or margins reflexed outward, becomingat maturity more loosely cupped.

Petals: Fairly thick with good substance; both the upper and undersurfaces of all petals have a matte finish.

Shape.--Outer petals are of a broad obovate form. The intermediatepetals are very much like the outer petals only narrower. The innerpetals are a broad lanceolate form; and the petaloids are alsolanceolate with some occasional irregularities.

Color: Newly opened flowers from plants grown outdoors (March throughNovember of 1995), Chula Vista, Calif.

Inner petals.--Upper and under surfaces -- Ranging from near Orient Pink(416/3 to 416/2 page 124) to near shell Pink (516/3 to 516/2 page 135).

Outer petals.--Upper surfaces-- Ranging from near Orient Pink (416/3 to416/2 page 124) to near Shell Pink (516/3 to 516/2 page 135) at the basewith a blush on the outer margins which ranges from near Azalea Pink(618/1 to 618 page 74) to near Scarlet (19/2 to 19/1 page 19) NOTE:Blush spreads across and deepens on all sun-exposed surfaces of blooms,especially in warmer climates. Blush is paler on blooms grown in coolerclimates or during overcast or cloudy days.

Under surfaces -- Ranging from near Orient Pink (416/3 to 416/2 page124) to near shell Pink (516/3 to 516/2 page 135) with only occasionalblush of near Azalea Pink (618/2 to 618/1 page 74) on the outermostpetals.

General color effect.--Newly opened flowers -- Pale pink with a darkerpink to scarlet blush on the outermost petals. Three to five days open--Pink blush on the outermost petals begins to darken and spread to allsun-exposed petal surfaces. After five days-- Fully open blooms willappear deep pink to scarlet in sunny/warmer climates; while open bloomsin cooler/cloudy climates will remain pale pink with a deeper pink blushonly on outermost petals.

Flower longevity. (March through November 1995).--Plant in pot 3 to 5days from bud with sepals reflexed to fully open bloom. Holding at fullyopened for 5 to 7 days longer. Cut blooms at living room temperature 10to 14 days or longer.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.--A generous amount arranged uniformly around the pistil.

Filaments.--Varying in length with shorter filaments more proximal tothe pistil; pale yellow in color with anthers of golden yellow.

Pollen.--Abundant.

Pistil.--Short, spreading and abundant; pale yellow.

Ovaries.--All encased in calyx.

Hips.--Some.

Seeds.--3 to 5 days or more in each hip.

Foliage:

Sepals.--Permanent; simple and glabrous; spear-shaped; open as the bloomopens, recurving against the peduncle, when the bloom is fully opened.Ocasional foliaceous appendages attractively supplement sepal terminals;these are of varying lengths.

Leaves.--5 to 7 leaflets on average; medium size for a miniature roseplant.

Leaflets.--Broad ovate-shaped.

Margins.--Very serrated with tinting of bronze, especially noticeable onthe newer foliage.

Color.--Ranging from near Spinach Green (0960/3 to 0960 page 187) tonear Scheeles Green (860/1 to 860 page 175) with occasional bronzing ofthe margins especially on the newer foliage. Upper surfaces have asemi-glossy finish, and the under surfaces have a matte finish of aslightly lighter shade than the upper surfaces.

Rachis.--Medium strength; upper surface is grooved with very small hairsover the length of it. Under surface has few if any hairs but doescontain 2 to 5 small thorns.

Stipules.--Varying in length from small to medium; average width;tapering auricles angled outward at about 45 degrees.

Growth:

Habit.--Dwarf, bush; above average with a miniature rose plant.

Rate and character.--Vigorous and well-branched.

Canes.--Medium diameter; sturdy; held erect.

Main stems.--Color range same as foliage.

Thorns.--Averaging less than 5to 10 per 10 cm on the main stems andbranches. Reddish in color; average size; slender and hooked slightlydownward.

Branches.--Coloration ranges the same as does that of the foliage.

The miniature rose plant and its flowers as herein described may vary inslight detal due to climate, soil and cultural conditions under whichthe variety may be grown; the present description being of the varietyas grown in Chula Vista, Calif.

No information related to insect, disease or frost tolerance isavailable due to the controlled growing conditions under which ourplants are produced and maintain, which includes regular application offungicides and pesticides on all plants and the immediate elimination ofany inferior seedlings which demonstrate a tendency to develop diseasesor other unpleasant habits. As to frost tolerance, all of our plants aregrown in Chula Vista, Calif. which is located in a moderate temperaturezone that would rarely experience frost or freezing temperatures. Forthe above mentioned reasons, the specifications have not been expandedfurther.

The following is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant, named `Something For Judy`, hardy, dwarf, vigorous growth,well-branched and attractive in appearance, substantially as illustratedand described; characterized by its hybrid tea form blooms, ranging fromnear Orient Pink to near Shell Pink with darker pink blush on theoutermost petals of near Azalea Pink to near Scarlet, which are abundanton the bush and usually borne one to a stem but occasionally in spraysof 3to 5 or more.